Export regulations compliance - improving market access

In a world of changing standards, how do you ensure that your export products meet NZ regulations, and the country’s regulations you are exporting to? What are your risks and challenges? This workshop brings together a wide range of information that is normally difficult to get access to for an in-depth exploration of export regulations including the topics below.

· Background and context to safety and food systems

· NZ regulatory framework - the agencies and the standards

· Export regulations and certification systems

· The consequences of the Food Act 2014 for exporting

· How to identify importing country requirements

· Specific topics including the differences in legislation between food, supplemented food and dietary supplements and the implications for exporting

Jane Lancaster

Director

Catalyst Ltd

Jane is a founding partner of Catalyst® Ltd. Over the last 10 years she has worked extensively with New Zealand and Australian food regulators and industry sectors consulting, reviewing and developing standards for export certification across a number of sectors. Jane is currently a Board member on Food Standards Australia New Zealand, and High Value Nutrition National Science Challenge and is a chartered member of the NZ Institute of Directors

Food labelling and regulation - driving product development through new opportunities

Labelling requirements are becoming more complex with many changes being driven from consumers, creating tensions between regulation and the consumers’ expectations of right to know. This workshop brings to light some of the challenges with food labelling with requirements of natural and supplemented foods, ‘free from’ foods, health stars and myriad other obligations. Dennis will help turn these challenges into opportunity, uncovering new possibilities to convey more value with your food.

· An overview of food labelling regulation

· Understanding what is regulatory, commercially obligatory and ‘nice to know’ for the consumer

· Delving into the mind of the consumer - what do they look for and what is reasonable to deliver?

· Driving product development with labelling knowledge - how can you deliver a higher value product?

Dennis Thomas

Consultant

Catalyst

Dennis has been involved with the food industry, mostly in New Zealand, for over 35 years primarily in research and development, quality assurance and technical management roles.
Dennis's extensive food processing knowledge was acquired through 27 years in the food industry in senior Technical Management and Quality Assurance roles: 7 years in dairy, 9 years in baking and confectionery, 9 years in seafood and 2 years in grains). During much of this period he was an executive member of the New Zealand Foods Standards Committee, until the joint Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code was established. He also worked 5 years in tertiary education roles related to the food industry at the Central Institute of Technology and Massey University. Dennis's most recent role was 6 years as Principal Food Technologist at Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ).
This background has provided Dennis with expertise in industrial research and development; quality assurance; food technology; international trade; operating in an academic environment; and Australian, New Zealand and international food regulatory systems.
Dennis's education was at Massey University (B.Tech and post-graduate Dip.Bus.Admin) and he is a Fellow and past President of the New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology.